Tesco is facing Britain's largest ever equal pay claim and a possible compensation bill of up to 4 billion pounds (C$7 billion), according to a law firm which has begun legal proceedings. It comes as a campaign for equal pay grows in the U.K.

“After holding a series of strike vote meetings across the Halifax Regional Municipality between Jan. 27 and Feb. 5, we received a very strong strike mandate from our members,” said Local 5047 president Ian Wilson. We trust this will send a message to our employer that a much more concerted effort has to be made to resolve the outstanding issues in this dispute.”

Key issues include wages and seniority, according to Wilson. The members have been without a contract since July 2011.

Members of the bargaining unit include educational program assistants, community outreach workers, library support specialists, early childhood education workers and aboriginal support workers who work at 140 sites across Halifax Regional Municipality.